266 PLANT CULTURE 



is not so tall as the first named, but the flowers are larger and the 

 plant more dwarf. 



Propagation. They are propagated from seeds sown as soon 

 as ripened. Some increase rapidly by the division of old clumps. 



LILIUM (Lily). There are probably over loo species of Lilies, 

 all natives of the Northern hemisphere. 



Greenhouse Lilies. The species used so much for forcing in 

 pots is known as L. longiflorum, a native of China and Japan. A 

 number of varieties are now used by the florist. L. I. va.x. formosum 

 is a quick forcing sort; L. I. var. giganteum is especially used for the 

 Easter trade and is the sort commonly kept in cold storage for all- 

 the-year use. Besides these, L. I. Harrisii a.nd L. I. midtiflorum a.re 

 used. L. candidum, the Madonna Lily, is of lesser importance for 

 forcing, but is exceedingly attractive. 



Culture. The bulbs should be potted as soon as procurable, 

 and plunged in a frame with a bottom of sifted cinders; the plunging 

 material should be cocoanut fiber, leaf soil, or thoroughly rotted 

 hotbed material. This precaution works well in maintaining an 

 equal state of moisture in the pots without the necessity of frequent 

 waterings. To prevent the sun drying the surface of the soil enough 

 covering of loose stable litter should be given. Remove the plants 

 indoors on the approach of severe weather. For early forcing the 

 pots may be placed directly on the bench of a cool greenhouse, and 

 precautions taken to keep the soil in an equably moist state, avoid- 

 ing either extreme. These bulbs should also be covered with some 

 light material to prevent baking. The pots used should be small 

 enough, so as to provide for a shift into 6- and 7-inch sizes as the 

 plants require it. Much better results are thus obtained, because 

 roots are formed on the stem of the Lily above the bulb, and often 

 above the soil, when they are planted directly into their flowering 

 pots, and especially when they are planted with the tops of the bulbs 

 level with the surface of the soil. So it will be seen that a shift 

 given after the plants have made considerable headway will work 

 advantageously in supplying new rooting material, not only for 

 the roots already formed in the soil, but for those forming on the 

 stem above it. 



In potting put one large piece of broken pot, concave side 

 down, over the hole in the bottom, and over this some half-decayed 

 leaves, not moss, as the latter retains too much moisture at the 

 bottom of the pot; ram the soil moderately firm. The soil should 

 have good, fibrous loam, enriched to about one-fifth of its bulk with 



